LMS Meeting 12 Sep 22 : Bee Pollen Loads
Todays meeting was well attended. Mike Smith and John Chandler showed us how to make Microscope Slides of Pollen from the “Pollen Loads” that honey bees carry. This helps identify what the Bees have been up to and the source plants of the pollen.
Supplies of Pollen Loads were available. These are collected by using special traps on the Hives to dislodge the pollen being carried by the Bees.
We all had some Pollen to view and tried to identify it. To view some images from the session -
click here
The process is straight forward.
- Mix the Pollen globule in alcohol to thin the wax and grease.
- Place a drop on a slide
- Heat to evaporate alcohol
- Stain with fuchsin glycerin mix
- Add cover slip and dry
If we do it again use less fuchsin stain.
Chris Wallage